TV alcohol advertising: Addiction specialists disappointed, TV broadcasters delighted
Not everyone is happy with the Council of States' decision to liberalize advertising for beer and wine on TV. The Swiss addiction agencies criticize the decision. Television broadcasters, on the other hand, are delighted.
Not everyone is happy with the Council of States' decision to liberalize advertising for beer and wine on TV. The Swiss addiction agencies criticize the decision: the wafer-thin decision is "disappointing" for the agencies. Parliament weighted the commercial interests of the alcohol industry, TV stations and the advertising industry higher than the protection of minors. This was reported on Thursday by the Swiss Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems, the Addiction Association and the Groupement Romand d'Etudes sur l'Alcoolisme et les Toxicomanies, according to SDA.
SRG, on the other hand, welcomes the decision. This means that Swiss broadcasters will no longer be at a disadvantage compared to the Swiss windows of foreign channels, Max Gurtner, Head of Corporate Communications at SRG, told SDA. Telesuisse, the Association of Swiss Private Television and Radio Broadcasters, is also satisfied. Wanting to prevent and protect minors in TV advertising is illusory, said Filippo Lombardi, Ticino CVP member of the Council of States and President of Telesuisse. The decision was "correct". Young people consume 80 percent of foreign TV channels - it is therefore "logical" to adapt the Swiss law to that of foreign countries.
3+ welcomes market liberalization
In addition to SRG broadcasters, regional language broadcasters were previously also prohibited from broadcasting advertising for beer and wine. Dominik Kaiser, Managing Director of 3+, is therefore also pleased about the liberalization. He would welcome further market liberalization, as "television advertising continues to be much more heavily regulated than other forms of advertising such as newspapers." MTV Networks Switzerland is also affected by the decision. "We will fulfill our responsibility towards the young target group," said Berit Gründlers, Marketing Manager at MTV. For this reason, guidelines for advertising beer and wine will be drawn up.
SRG, on the other hand, welcomes the decision. This means that Swiss broadcasters will no longer be at a disadvantage compared to the Swiss windows of foreign channels, Max Gurtner, Head of Corporate Communications at SRG, told SDA. Telesuisse, the Association of Swiss Private Television and Radio Broadcasters, is also satisfied. Wanting to prevent and protect minors in TV advertising is illusory, said Filippo Lombardi, Ticino CVP member of the Council of States and President of Telesuisse. The decision was "correct". Young people consume 80 percent of foreign TV channels - it is therefore "logical" to adapt the Swiss law to that of foreign countries.
3+ welcomes market liberalization
In addition to SRG broadcasters, regional language broadcasters were previously also prohibited from broadcasting advertising for beer and wine. Dominik Kaiser, Managing Director of 3+, is therefore also pleased about the liberalization. He would welcome further market liberalization, as "television advertising continues to be much more heavily regulated than other forms of advertising such as newspapers." MTV Networks Switzerland is also affected by the decision. "We will fulfill our responsibility towards the young target group," said Berit Gründlers, Marketing Manager at MTV. For this reason, guidelines for advertising beer and wine will be drawn up.
